Finally the Obey amendment provides $175 million in food assistance for Kosovo. Unfortunately the Administration did not request any additional funding to meet needs in Kosovo. With over 600.000 refugees now in camps and another 800.000 to 900.000 people displaced within Kosovo. it is now clear that the need for food assistance has grown. and that the existing resources of the Emergency feeding programs will not meet the needs. In addition it appears that ongoing food programs for Indonesia. Yemen. Ethiopia. and Rwanda have been cut back to meet needs in Kosovo. The $175 million for additional PL 480 in the amendment will enable feeding programs to continue all over the world and emerging needs to be met in Kosovo. The assumptions used by the Administration did not take into account refugee needs beyond September 30th of this year. There are no funds in this bill to move refugees back into Kosovo. There are no funds in this bill to winterize refugee camps. if that becomes necessary. In short there is very little wiggle room with these humanitarian accounts to respond to changing circumstances on the ground. This $175 million in additional food assistance will ensure that all refugees will be fed wherever they end up. and it will ensure that cuts are not made to other vital feeding programs. Support the Obey amendment.
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